Police investigate student death

Police today issued a fresh appeal for witnesses following the death of a student from the University of Glamorgan.

Business studies undergraduate Peter Ostrowski, from Coventry, was found collapsed outside a pub in Treforest, Pontypridd, south Wales in the early hours of Christmas day. He died in hospital after suffering severe head injuries.

South Wales police said although Mr Ostrowski had had an argument with another customer earlier in the evening, it was not yet clear how he came by his fatal injuries.

Mr Ostrowski's uncle, Stephen Ostrowski, said the student's parents, his two brothers and his sister were struggling to come to terms with their loss.

"Peter's parents are absolutely devastated," he said. "Parents shouldn't have to bury their children. I would not wish that on my worst enemy.

"I think they may find some solace in the fact that Peter's organs will be able to benefit someone. That is the only good that has come out of this."

Mr Ostrowski, who was in the final year of his degree at Glamorgan, had decided to spend Christmas at his student accommodation in Treforest so he could continue studying.

He had gone to the Rickard Arms pub, where he was a regular, with friends on Christmas eve and was found collapsed in the street outside at around 12.50am.

He was pronounced dead on Saturday after a decision was taken to switch off his life support machine.

Stephen Ostrowski said: "We don't know what happened. The only information we have been given by the police is that they think he went out backwards, fell down two steps and cracked his head.

"There's no way Peter would have tried to get into a fight, he just wasn't that type. "He was a very happy, hard-working guy, easy going and quiet. He was not offensive to anyone."

Detectives investigating Mr Ostrowski's death have appealed for witnesses, particularly the congregation from a local Catholic church who may have seen him as they left following midnight mass.

Detective Inspector Steve Cooke said: "We are still at the very early stage of the investigation to establish the circumstances of Mr Ostrowski's death.

"We have talked to witnesses from inside the pub, but we are still looking for more witnesses who were outside the premises at the time of the incident."